Benn was speaking as he returned to the UK this week to celebrate the 50th birthday of friend and former opponent Michael Watson, and he revealed that he still keeps an eye on the division.

Froch defeated bitter domestic rival George Groves twice with the second coming in convincing fashion with a knockout in front of 80,000 people at Wembley Stadium last May.

However, while he had the option of defending his IBF belt against mandatory challenger DeGale earlier this year, he opted not to do so and vacated the belt as he looked to the USA for a major fight in Las Vegas.

Injury has since curtailed that plan as the 37-year-old is expected to return to the ring this summer, although DeGale has moved on with his plans as he will face Andre Dirrell on May 23 in Boston for the chance to become a world champion.

Nevertheless, Benn wants to see Froch take on his fellow Englishman and remains unimpressed by the Nottingham-born fighter’s claims that he has eclipsed the achievements both he and Joe Calzaghe had in the sport.

“When he says he’s got a better record than Benn and Calzaghe, I think hold on a minute,” Benn told Sky Sports.

“Don’t start giving it that. We fought everybody and then you go and say you’ve got a better record than Calzaghe. I don’t think so mate, I don’t want people slagging us off when at the end of the day I would have fought him all day long.”

“There was a good fight there. James DeGale is top drawer. I do like him as a person but I just believe that he is calming down and is reaping the rewards.”

Benn added that if he was ever to be convinced to get back in the ring for one night only, he would fight Froch, and he evidently likes the change that DeGale has gone through more recently as he has impressed with his attitude both in and out of the ring.